The North Korean test fires two more missiles, South Korea responds with its own weapons tests

Seoul, South Korea – North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the waters off its east coast on Wednesday afternoon, two days after it claimed to have tested a new long-range cruise missile in the resumption of his arms displays after a six-month hiatus. South Korea responded to the latest provocation with its own weapons tests, a few hours later, and increased tension on the Korean peninsula with nuclear weapons, where there are thousands of American troops.

South Korea’s joint heads of state said the north launched the two missiles on Wednesday from a location in the center of the country.

Hours later, South Korea said it had successfully conducted a first test of an underwater missile, making the country one of seven countries in the world with the proven ability to launch a ballistic missile from d ‘a submarine, along with the United States. , Russia, China, Great Britain, France and India.

The South Korean Defense Development Agency also announced in a statement that the country had tested a new long-range air-to-surface missile on Wednesday, which promoted the development of a new supersonic missile with “a speed higher than existing missiles, making it very difficult for enemy ships to respond, further improving the missile’s survival and destructive power. “

The agency said it “hoped the new missile would become a central force that could respond more effectively to forces approaching Korean territorial waters.”

President Moon’s office Jae-in said in a statement that Moon had observed the test of a ballistic missile launched by domestically manufactured submarines on Wednesday afternoon. The missile was said to have flown at a pre-established distance and hit a designated target.

The video released by the South Korean Ministry of Defense showed a submarine sailing to the surface and then cut to a clip showing a missile coming out from under the sea and flying into the sky.

After Moon applauded South’s growing missile capabilities as a “safe deterrent” against future North Korean provocations, the North Korean leader’s powerful sister threatened a “complete destruction” of relations between the two countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga previously said North Korean missiles had landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the waters between northwestern Japan and the Korean peninsula.

North Korea’s latest tests “threaten the peace and security of Japan and the region and are absolutely outrageous,” Suga said. “The government of Japan is determined to further intensify our vigilance and vigilance to be prepared for any unforeseen events.”

The Indo-Pacific Command of the U.S. military said in a statement that it was “aware of the missile launch” by North Korea and that it was “consulting closely with our allies and partners.”

“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, nor to our allies, the launch of missiles highlights the destabilizing impact of the DPRK. [North Korea’s] illicit weapons program. The commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea [South Korea] and Japan remains viable, “the statement said.

There was no immediate statement from the United States on the South Korean missile test, but the two countries are closely coordinated and America has maintained a strong presence of troops in the south about 30,000 troops, since the hostilities of the war. Korea ended up untreated in the 1950s. .

Seoul said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were analyzing details of North Korea’s launches.

The statement from South Korea’s joint leaders added that the South had stepped up its stance on surveillance against North Korea. The statement was released ahead of the announcement of the South Korean missile test on Wednesday.

North Korea had said Monday it tested a newly developed cruise missile twice over the weekend. North Korea’s state media described the missile as a “strategic weapon of great importance,” implying that it was developed with the intent of arming them with nuclear warheads.

According to North Korean reports, the missile flew about 930 miles, a distance that reached all of Japan, including U.S. military installations in that country.

Many experts say weekend tests suggest North Korea is pushing to bolster its weapons arsenal amid a deadlock in nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.

Wednesday’s launches came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Seoul for meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and other senior officials to discuss stopped nuclear diplomacy with the United States. North.

It is unusual for North Korea to make provocative launches when China, its last major ally and largest aid provider, participates in a major diplomatic event.

Moon’s office said Moon told Wang that he appreciates China’s role in the international diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear confrontation and that he called for Beijing’s continued support.

Wang said Beijing will continue to support the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of ties between the Koreans, and also called for further development of relations with Seoul.

Nuclear diplomacy between the United States and North Korea has stalled since 2019, when Americans rejected US demand for major sanctions relief measures in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility . So far, the Kim government has threatened to build high-tech weapons aimed at the United States and has rejected the Biden administration’s openings for dialogue, demanding Washington abandon its “hostile” policies first.

The resumption of northern testing activity is likely an attempt to pressure the Biden administration over the diplomatic freeze after Kim failed to take advantage of his arsenal to reap economic benefits during Donald Trump’s presidency.

North Korea ended a one-year break in ballistic testing in March by firing two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, continuing the tradition of testing new U.S. administrations with demonstrations of weapons aimed at measuring Washington’s response and obtaining concessions.

North Korea still maintains a self-imposed moratorium on long-range nuclear missile testing, a signal it may not want to set aside nuclear negotiations with the United States.